Hey I'm Over Here!

Hey everyone! So I've got a real life desk these days so I plan on being around this blog of mine more often. But if you're curious about wedding happenings please check out our wedding website! I don't update it too much right now but will probably post more over there as the big day gets closer. Here is a picture of my desk

(15%) Built all by me!

We went to Ikea on a Saturday. It was madness as usual. But we made it without fighting or breaking up, and did Liz Lemon proud. 

Looking forward to being around here more often!

Cheers!

Marisa

I'm Here, I Swears

Hey loves. I'm alive, for reals. Just supppppeeerr busy weekend and so much going on right now. Black Friday was good, not as crazy as I was prepared for and I drank FOUR Red Bulls in less than 24 hours. Also I ate about 25,000 calories. That shouldn't really be a surprise. I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and has recovered from the food comas! Can't wait to catch up with everyone. 

Cheers!

Marisa

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life

Okay, you've asked so I'll tell. I had an amazing time in Minneapolis this weekend. AND I navigated all by myself, the city, 394 and 494 and only once had to bust out "Sorry...I'm from Iowa." Feeling pretty proud of myself. After meeting Drew and his co-worker for lunch we didn't know what to do with our afternoon since we had no plans for the day or evening and it was only 2pm. So we did what anyone would do. Drink beer and go bowling.

(the popcorn was butter herb and parmeasan. Sooo good)

(Drew concentrating real hard)

We had fun and weren't conserned about scores ( I WON) and had a good afternoon.

After bowling we hit up the booze store grocery store for ingredients for inside out lasagna.

(Wine was totally a key ingredient. No really)

This was such an easy recipe and it turned out soooooo awesome. I am craving it right now.

Might have to make that again this week.

Saturday was a bussssyyy day. Started off with touring Drew's work with his grandparents, who were so sweet. Followed by dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant where they have a lunch buffet, and lets just say I'm glad I was wearing leggings. Finally after that we hit up the Walker Art Center.

(Claes Oldenburg!)

(sculpture garden at Walker Art Center)

(Drew growing impatient with my picture taking)

That night we met up with one of Drew's friends for sushi in St. Paul which was amaazzing (again so glad I was wearing leggings!) and I got to see this

Why yes that is the Church of Scientology in St. Paul. Apparently it used to be the children's museum. It is huge. Those scientologists are loaded.

Sunday was brunch with the fam, and it was awesome. His parents are so nice and his mom deserves Mom of the Century or Sainthood or something. Drew is the oldest of 4 boys (thats right FOUR) and his youngest brother is autistic. Yet his mom is the most upbeat, kindhearted person I've ever met. I don't know how she does it. He has some amazing parents. Also she made eggs with Mornigstar Farms "sausage" in it for me. That made me smile :)

So there you have it. My Minneapolis weekend and meeting the fam. Such a great weekend and relocating is becoming less stressful. Now if only someone would give me a job....(hint hint)

Cheers!

Marisa

Title Lyrics: Stevie Wonder "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"

(Future) Homeward Bound!

I'm heading to Minneapolis today to spend a wonderful weekend with my boy and (gasp!) meet the fam. Keep your fingers crossed for me ;)

We have some really fun things planned, but what I'm really excited for is a trip to the Walker Art Center . Our friends generously gave us tickets they were not able to use the last time they were up there.

(via)

Where this Claes Oldenburg lives

(Oh he's like way famous)

Catch up with you all after the weekend! Hopefully I have some good adventures to post!

And thank you all for your sweet comments, and thank you new commenters and followers. I don't know what I'd do without you guys :)

Cheers!

Marisa

Just a little something....

This week has been terrible. And it's Wednesday. Let's just say yesterday ended with tears in my pb&j sandwich. It didn't make it taste any better. I was working on a better post, that was full of deep thoughts and probably involved philosophical things that make me feel better than everyone. But then I got sidetracked on twitter and facebook...and I lost interest. I've been going a million miles an hour like a rabbit on crack, and if you follow me on twitter, know that I reached my breaking point last night. I desperately want to catch up on all your blogs, but I have to work tonight and I. Haven't. Packed. Yet. And I leave tomorrow early morning. Kill me now.

Once I get home Thursday I will play catch up with everyone. Providing I don't hurl myself along with my suitcase out the window tonight. You know when I'm panic-packing at midnight.

Cheers,

Marisa

Do you have somewhere else to be? A hideous skirt convention?

I watched The Devil Wears Prada and The Young Victoria yesterday. I'm pretending to be Emily Blunt today. So this weekend was Race for the Cure and it was once again, so much fun. I love seeing the Des Moines capitol building turn into a sea of pink :) It wasn't my best 5k (30 minutes) but I always end up getting choked up a few times throughout the race and I have to slow it down to prevent myself from hyperventalating. This year it was due to many a big burly men running in pink for their moms, sisters, or wives, and also little boys running for their mothers. I may be tearing up about it as I write this. If you've never done Race for the Cure I highly recommend you do. It's such an amazing experience.

I have a short work week as I'm heading home Thursday and heading to a wedding (yay!) As such, I've been working out like crazy and living off a cube of cheese if I feel as though I'm about to pass out (jk just more Emily for you!) This is more for the going home part, less for the wedding. I've discovered it's best to just be my skinniest self and avoid side eye and looks of contempt while at home. I cannot wait for Sunday, as I plan on consuming 5000 calories....for breakfast.

In true me style, I hate all the dresses that I own and am panicking about what to wear. Am I alone in this? I had planned on wearing this emerald green dress I have, but put it on yesterday and almost vommed on my cat. I have another dress that I can wear as back up but I don't looovve it. And I wore blue to the last wedding. I'm going to end up being that girl who wears blue. What do you guys do in situations like this? I'm taking all suggestions.

Cheers!

Marisa

TGUK, Minneapolis, and Real Maple Syrup

As you've probably gathered from the title I was in Minneapolis this weekend to see The Get Up Kids and stayed with one of my very best friends from college, Drew. Who made homemade maple syrup and gave me a bottle. Hence the real maple syrup. Now that that is cleared up, lets move on. 

Minneapolis houses a few pretty awesome things. The Mall of America, Ikea...okay two awesome things. 3 if you count Drew. The Get Up Kids were playing in Iowa City but I decided to just kill a bird with a stone and see a band and a friend and get out of Des Moines for the weekend. So my hungover self  (Happy Birthday Seth!!!) made the ever exciting drive to the Twin Cities. No I don't have any pictures from the drive. Have you ever driven from Des Moines to Minneapolis? Anyways, I was pretty much recovered by the time I arrived and actually felt that solid food was a good idea. So after being hungover all day resisting the urge to vom along Interstate 35, what is better than raw fish, eel and warm rice wine? Drew took me to Wakame by Lake Calhoun in the super hipster Uptown. It was absolutely amazing and know what was even better? Ben and Jerry's being next door. So naturally after dinner we hit it and I got my most favorite ice cream ON A CONE!!!!!!

(Late Night Snack!!!!)

Drew got his Late Night Snack in a dish and then was sad about it. Lucky for him I like him so I shared my cone.

After dinner and dessert, we did what anyone would naturally do next. Hit up the liquor store for some wine. 2 bottles of wine, Charlie the Unicorn, Kittens Inspired By Kittens later, I was well on my way to a repeat of the previous morning. However Sunday morning was 1 million times more awesome because it involved eggs, peanut butter and banana toast and french pressed coffee. And no not at a restaurant. I know be jealous. 

Sunday involved an Ikea excursion, and a viewing of Horrible Bosses which I thought was hilarious. Then it was time to get ready for The Get Up Kids!!!!!!!!

(Waiting for the bus taking pictures. Blue Moon Cafe.)

 

From the bus we took the "light rail". Which is basically Minneapolis speak for train.

Finally we arrived at our destination: the Triple Rock Social Club. I wish I had more pictures/ better pictures, but I think my camera has finally bit the dust. It's had a good life. RIP camera :(

 

So far I've seen Saves The Day, now The Get Up Kids. All thats left is Something Corporate and The Ataris and it will complete my high school band nostalgia tour. I don't know if it will happen, but I'll keep trying.

So! Kick ass, super awesome weekend of awesomeness. Which included a Monday breakfast of buttermilk and honey pancakes with blackberries and real maple syrup. Then I had to drive back to Des Moines. And this morning I had to make my own breakfast :( Booooooo.

Cheers!

Marisa

A Little of 80/35

First off, hello new followers! Thanks for stopping by! This weekend was not only the 4th of July but also the music festival 80/35. I've been lazy and haven't bothered with my pics yet, so until I am able to do a proper write up, please enjoy some pics of my friend B and our friend we met, Bear Face.

 

Hope everyone had a super awesome All American and safe 4th of July!!!!

Cheers!

Marisa

Beer Olympics 2011

So in the effort to be a good sport about this whole fractured foot, I decided to try carrying on with my life and that meant attending the Beer Olympics at my friend John's house this weekend. I couldn't really participate, but I can drink beer and was given a hard hat, safety vest and a fire extinguisher and made the safety officer. Did I use the fire extinguisher you ask? Why yes I did. I put out a flaming tree stump. I may have asked someone to light it on fire so I could put it out, but whatever. It still counts and I am totally Fire Marshall Bill.

Anyways, there was a keg and even, an Olympic Flame

(seriously go check out the stuff he builds. He's like a mad scientist....who looks like a cross between Ryan Gosling and Jake Gyllenhaal, not like a creepy old dude with crazy white hair and huge glasses.)

I was put in charge of keeping score, which I did a reallly poor job of. I was also in charge of John's dog Vegas and his neighbors probably think someone from the local asylum escaped and kidnapped his dog because I was walking him around in the hard hat and safety vest...and I was also wearing my boot. Awesome I know. But at the end due to my poor score keeping abilities and all participants being drunk and not caring, everyone was a winner somehow!

(The bestie before the events testing out the podium she painted and holding up the sweet medals she made. )

That night since the bestie and I are drunks party like rockstars we went out to some local establishments where we met a really fun bunch of guys that were out for a bachelor party and one really weird dude that followed us into The Lift. I don't know if he thought throwing out 20 questions was a socially acceptable way to meet people or if he was just socially ackward. Either way he started out with "which one of us was the craziest" followed by "what is your most awesome make-out story". He took the cake though for having made out with a girl in a giant pumpkin. I know....we didn't ask too many questions.

I've learned though that life with this stupid boot isn't so bad. No I can't run and yes that sucks, but I can still be part of the human race and do things with my friends. And drink which really, is the most important thing. I'm off to see Mumford and Sons today which I'm soooooooooo excited for! Can't wait to tell you all about how I make Winston Marshall my new boyfriend. You're all going to be so jealous. 

Cheers!

Marisa

The Hangover-The Preview

Well lovelies, I'm back in Des Moines in one piece still although maybe minus half my liver. I'm exhausted and don't have any pics yet but will be harassing Will until he uploads them so I can show you just how awesome we are together. Here is a little preview of the things that happened this weekend:

1.) Almost got murdered by our shuttle driver because Will and Joe were insulting Waterloo

2.) Blew a .23 

(no we didn't get pulled over or arrested or anything. Will just has a breathalizer. Don't ask questions.)

3.) Went to a strip club

4.) Passed out at the bar.

5.) Passed out on the floor in front of my hotel room.

Bet you can't wait to hear the whole story ;)

Hangover Cheers!

Marisa

Irresponsible activties > Responsible activies

At least that was the case today. I woke up this morning with the greatest of intentions. Gonna work out, and go grocery shopping, clean and maybe bust out my GMAT books again. You know....responsible adult things that we're expected to do. Instead I went to brunch with my ladies, drank, came home and drank some more, made cupcakes somewhere in the middle and passed out only to wake up at about 7:50pm. Failure of a day you say? Maybe...or a day of awesomeness. In fact this whole weekend has been pretty great. It did include a few of these

(Yes that is a PBR. I really need to get a new camera.)

Anyways, I'm out. I've got nothing today due to irresponsible activities. I promise to be better tomorrow. 

Cheers,

Marisa

The Purpose Of Our Lives Is To Be Happy.

Hello friends! I'm back and better than ever. I was soooooo productive this weekend and took care of so many things that were stressing me out, I feel 100lbs lighter! I got my room all organized closet cleaned out and boy let me tell you does it feel good. It made me remember why I fell in love with minimalism; to not feel defined by my possessions but rather to define my life by my actions and relationships with all the great people in my life.

Saturday I headed to Ames to celebrate my friends quarter century bday with some of our favorite movies (Easy A, Clueless, Mean Girls...) and sooooooo much food. 

I'd tell you what we had...but you'd probably never believe that we could eat it all. Lets just say cake and ice cream were only a small portion of the celebratory foods. I couldn't bring myself to eat a thing until about noon today. I was that full from Saturday night. None the less, it was a most excellent time and I look forward to the next quarter century :)

How was everyone elses weekend? Hopefully full of fun and food! Haha. We're at less than 5 weeks till vacation and less than two until my weekend of bad decisions and debauchery with my Will. Oohhh the fun times that are ahead!

Cheers!

Marisa

Title quote: His Holiness, The Dalai Lama 

A Nice Little Weekend

Holy awesome weather in Des Moines! Saturday and Sunday we say 80 degrees and sunshine. Sorry for being away, but I couldn't pass that up. Friday night was a friends bday partayyyy. Which I paid for on Saturday...and I had to work. Suck. But! Saturday morning I got to enjoy a lovely brunch with the roomie and friends where we recapped the night and discussed who was winning! and...who was not winning. Pretty sure I ended up being the winner. I did not cry and my guy was hot. Score! Saturday evening I got to see an old college friend who was in town and we grabbed dinner on a patio and enjoyed a nice refreshing beer in the (did I mention?) beautiful warm sunny weather. Please don't think less of me for admitting this but....I totally crashed after dinner. Which was 9:30. I know. I'm old balls, I just can't party like I used to. Ah well, I got plenty of sleep and then had an old person Sunday. It involved, a mid morning run, grocery shopping, cleaning and laundry and then a movie. Which may or may not have been The Young Victoria...again. I have a problem.

But really who wouldn't want to watch their love story? They're both so pretty. 

One last thing that made my Sunday super awesome. I finally found it.

Yeah I ate the whole thing. What of it?

Only 5.5 weeks left till vacation!!!!!!!!!

Cheers!

Marisa

Des Moines Art Center

Today was unusually nice in Des Moines. 80 degrees! I spent the whole morning being hungover after too much celebrating of my good friend Mike's birthday the night before. Well worth it though. Once I finally felt better I forced myself to head out because for all I know it could snow again tomorrow. So I went to one of my favorite places in Des Moines, the Art Center

I really enjoy art museums. For some reason I find them to be one of the most peaceful places. I just bring my ipod along and I'm off in my own little world. Thanks to Principal Financial Group admission is always free and thus it's my favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon. These are some of my favorites

(Matisse Dame a le robe blanche)

(Francis Bacon's Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X)

This one creeps me out and at the same time I never pass it up.

Also a treat, currently the art center has an Anselm Reyle exhibit. Which I loooovveeed. 

(Anselm Reyles Untitled 2009)

(Anselm Reyel Untitled 2010)

I admit. I'm no art critic. I don't know the deeper meaning behind it all, but I do know that Reyle's use of bright neons, different textures and light really appealed to me. 

After the art center I ventured to the adjoining Rose Garden where somehow 2.5 hours went by and I finished my second mountain disaster book. 

This book actually scared me. Will not be attempting K2 ever.

I would've taken pictures at the Rose Garden but well...there are no roses and it still is brown and drab and depressing looking. However it has benches and it was so nice outside (80 degrees...did I mention that?) so it was the perfect place to finish my book about people dying on a frigid dangerous mountain...

How was everyone elses weekend? I hope absolutely fabulous! Ughh not ready to start another week but only 7 more weeks till vacation!

Cheers

Marisa

*all photos via google images

It's November!

And I saw my first snowflakes on my run on Sunday! Unfortunately then I stepped on a used condom.....Guess you gotta take the good with the bad eh? You know what else November is bringing?????

(November 19th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I cannot wait! Last year we saw it in the IMAX so I plan on doing it again. It was amazing! Probably should re-read the book...again...for like the 17th time.

Anyway enough about Harry Potter awesomeness, this weekend was FINALLY low key for me. Went out for dinner and drinks with my co-worker and some of his friends Friday and Saturday I stayed in and watched my fav movie Amelie. Mostly because I was tired and Crabby with a capital C. The crazies are out in droves my friends. Beware of the mall. Less than two weeks till Black Friday...anyone braving the mobs? I will be closing at Bath and Body Works and I am preparing myself for the madness. Normally I invite people to come visit me however, I won't be offended if you don't.

On a random tangent has anyone ever tried a juice fast? I'm curious I've never tried it before and honestly I haven't really done a whole lot of research, does it really do anything? I'll take any tips pointers, etc.

Hope everyone had a great Monday!

Marisa

Craziness!

Wow been a while since a post. D & I have been super busy lately it's finally started to calm down. Lots of racing visiting the folks, and workin been goin on the last couple of weekends. As most of you know I'm a veteran at the BB Dubs ( or Bath and Body Works for all you non Limited Brands employees) and Holiday Season is upon us like whoa! I'm talking Christmas Trees, paper chains, snowmen, the works. So until approximately February 1st I will be a workin like mad. I don't mind it though, I like watching the basement remodel fund grown in it's bright and happy ING savings account. Oh homeownership how I loathe thee sometimes!

Anyway...

As we've been busy my wifely duties have been lackin. Which causes major anxiety in this lady let me tell you. I try to always maintain order in my house as much as I can what with the menagerie that resides here. The kitchen and the bedroom are my two main areas of focus. Especially the bedroom. Don't know why but it is supposed to be the safe haven. The door remains shut at all hours of the day UNTIL we go to bed. (This is mostly to just keep the dogs out of there so they don't get fur everywhere) So when I open it up to go to bed I expect it to be pristine and welcoming and ready for me to hop in and snuggle up. Needless to say when it is not in that condition, I have a hard time sleeping. So if you ever want me as a house guest, you better have a spotless bedroom for me to sleep in.

This is my dream. I'm a workin on it.

Until next time peeps.

<3